Instagram lets you see what it thinks you like, and the results are bizarre
Most of my Instagram ads make sense, even if it's a depressing kind of sense. (I am served a lot of ads for Tums.) But there are a few that, for the life of me, I cannot figure out. Why is Instagram so invested in me purchasing fishing lures? I have not been fishing in many years.
Turns out, Instagram assembles a list of all the things that it thinks you like -- based on the data it's pulled from you, of course. It's nothing new, but it is enjoying a brief moment in the spotlight after reporter Eric Ginsburg tweeted about it Saturday.
He also provided instructions on how to view your own "interests."
Tweet may have been deleted
Now people are sharing their own lists, which seem to be riddled with things they are not, in fact, interested in. The first item on my own list is "Christian music," of which I am not a big fan despite the mix CD my cousin made me in fifth grade. The second item is "Portraits," which I do love. Number three is "Techno," which is a no from me. It's a real mixed bag.
Here are some of the more colorful lists I've seen.
Tweet may have been deletedSEE ALSO:Why I hate the new Instagram Stories camera
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Where is Instagram getting all this data? From activity on both your IG and Facebook accounts, for one thing. It also pulls information from third-party apps and websites you've logged into through Facebook -- which, for many of us, means a lotof third parties have gained access to our data one way or another. (Big side eye to you, Facebook.)
If you want to see more ads that are relevant to your real interests it might be good to take a look at your Facebook privacy settings. As Lifehacker reported last month, you can prohibit "partners" (third parties) from using your data, which will mean you only see ads based on your activity "on Facebook, its partners (like WhatsApp), its products (like Instagram), and specific businesses you’ve interacted with." Will you see fewer ads? No. But with a smaller pool of data to metabolize, the app may give you ads that you're slightly more interested in.
Now, I'm off to enjoy my new life as a professional angler!
Featured Video For You
Tesla hires the 'absolute unit' meme guy to run its social media
(责任编辑:关于我们)
- ·'Black Myth: Wukong' PS5 review in progress: A potential masterpiece
- ·Serena's coach says 'revolting' that players can't make a living
- ·World Food Program to resume aid to Pyongyang: Voice of America
- ·4 Nintendo Switch accessories you'll want to get right away
- ·Garmin Fenix 8 vs. Apple Watch Ultra: The Fenix wins big on battery life
- ·Trump retweets a Twitter user named White Genocide.
- ·多彩年画添年味 搬进新家迎新年
- ·Jeff Bezos suits up in giant robot armor as Amazon prepares to take over the world
- ·How 3D Game Rendering Works: Texturing
- ·Even Selena Gomez feels like sh*t when she looks at Instagram
- ·Essential Apps to Install on your Windows PC or Mac
- ·HTC lays off nearly a quarter of its entire workforce
- ·Satellite imagery showing activity at suspected N. Korean nuclear facility: CNN
- ·Trash balloons, propaganda leaflets escalate tensions on Korean Peninsula
- ·Revolutionary grid
- ·Trash balloons, propaganda leaflets escalate tensions on Korean Peninsula
- ·Louisiana theater shooter John Houser’s hate
- ·Best lines, quotes of the NBC News YouTube Democratic debate.
- ·What Ever Happened to Flickr?
- ·Congress is trying to give Obama powers to fight ISIS that he doesn't want or need.